BY JON R. LaFOLLETTE | STAFF WRITER
PHARR — With the benefit of coming off their bye week, Edinburg North entered PSJA Stadium on Friday with added time to refresh, refocus and recharge themselves for a push to the playoffs.
Quarterback Cristian Espinoza sensed a change.
“Just the way we were carrying ourselves in practice and warmups before for the game, there was an energy that hasn’t been there this season,” Espinoza said. “We knew how important this game was, so we just came in ready to take care of business.”
And take care of business they did. After defeating PSJA Memorial 30-13, Edinburg North set up a winner-take-all contest next week against Edinburg Economedes for the final playoff spot in District 31-6A.
“I was talking to (Econ coach Gabe) Peña earlier this season,” North coach Rene Saenz said. “We were looking ahead at the schedule and he said, ‘I hope our game matters.’ I think he turned into a bit of a prophet.”
Saenz says his team will enjoy Friday’s win for the night, and they rightly should. It’s been an up-and-down season for the Cougars, and their victory over the Wolverines marked their most complete win this season.
The catalyst for North was its defense. Though that unit surrenders 350 yards per game, they limited PSJA Memorial to 232 and frustrated the Wolverines’ offense with four takeaways, three of which came from senior John Mendoza. Mendoza has collected 11 interceptions on the season, tied for second-best in Texas, according to MaxPreps.
“He’s been working really hard,” Espinoza said. “He’s one of the leaders on the team and helps everyone get better. He definitely deserves to get those picks that are coming to him, but he works for them for sure.”
Mendoza’s first pick came during the first three minutes of the game. His 71-yard return put the Cougars on their own 5-yard line and set up a 24-yard field goal from Eduar Escobar to put Edinburg North up 3-0 with 8:40 left in the opening quarter. From then on, it was all Cougars, all the time.
Running back Jaime Guerra carried the ball into the end zone from 20 yards out to give North a 9-0 lead after a failed two-point conversion. Espinoza found receiver Joseph Acuna on a 12-yard touchdown pass and Juan Flores exploded for a 52-yard touchdown run. With 9:15 left in the first half, the Cougars were up 23-0, their biggest lead of the night.
While North’s offense continued to score, the defense continued to shut down the Wolverines. Aside from a pair of touchdowns when the game was already decided, PSJA Memorial had four interceptions, three punts, two fumbles lost on kickoffs, and a turnover on downs.
“Guys were swarming to the ball tonight,” Espinoza said. “There were always five or six guys near the ball ready to make the tackle instead of just one, like there have been in other games.”
TRICKS UP THEIR SLEEVES
The Cougars attempted trick plays during key moments throughout the game, to varying degrees of success.
A fake PAT in the first quarter didn’t result in two points. However, a fake punt on fourth down that became a pass from Justin Guerra to Adrian Ortiz did. That first-down conversion extended a Cougars drive that resulted in a touchdown.
“Those plays have been there, we just haven’t been able to run them when we want to because we haven’t always been on the same page,” Saenz said. “With some guys hurt, you had different guys understanding different parts of the play.”
Key returners for the Cougars were center Julian Rico, and linebackers Javier De La Cruz and Luis Zapata.
GAME RECOGNIZE GAME
Espinoza and PSJA Memorial QB Mike Gonzalez are the best passers in the district. After the game, Espinoza says the two briefly spoke to one another.
“I just wished him success in the future,” Espinoza said. “He’s a great player for them and is a great senior talent.”
Espinoza completed 7-of-13 passes for 92 yards and a score. Gonzalez threw for 213 yards on 19-of-40 attempts, including 4 INTs and a touchdown.